title: Clinical findings and imaging features of 67 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with postradiation nasopharyngeal necrosis.
abstract: Postradiation nasopharyngeal necrosis is an important late effect of radiotherapy that affects prognosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In the present study, we reviewed the clinical and imaging features of 67 patients with pathologically diagnosed postradiation nasopharyngeal necrosis who were treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between June 2006 and January 2010. Their clinical manifestations, endoscopic findings, and imaging features were analyzed. Early nasopharyngeal necrosis was limited to a local site in the nasopharyngeal region, and the tissue defect was not obvious, whereas deep parapharyngeal ulcer or signs of osteoradionecrosis in the basilar region was observed in serious cases. Those with osteoradionecrosis and/or exposed carotid artery had a high mortality. In conclusion, Postradiation nasopharyngeal necrosis has characteristic magnetic resonance imaging appearances, which associate well with clinical findings, but pathologic examination is essential to make the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P. R. China. huayj@sysucc.org.cn.
authors.forename: Ming-Yuan
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hai-Qiang
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ming-Huang
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yi-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009336:Necrosis; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000009:adverse effects*